The third reason is that I may upon this occasion which God hath put in my hand communicate unto you my humble thoughts for your good unto which 〈◊〉 thousands of your sonnes worthier then I can have any 〈…〉 think my selfe to be have according to the commandment of 〈◊〉 and their manifold obligation devoted and sacrificed themselâ—â—â— and all that they have For my part since I am not able to 〈◊〉 my duty to the full I shall still acknowledge my Obligation câ—â—fesse my debt and what I have which is a small proportion to that which I owe I shall willingly offer The Lord hath done great things for you and by you His Spirit speaking in your faithfull Pastours and working in your owne hearts will teach you and give you grace in wisedome and humilitie to compare your present estate under the light puritie libertie and blessings of the Gospell with the darknesse corruptions tyrannie and miseries which our forefathers were covered with under Paganisme of old and under Antichrist afterwards and which our selves did endure under Antichristian Prelacy of late It is true the present times are full of sufferings calamities losses and feares all the three Kingdoms have drunken although by equall draughts of a very bitter cup such as the Lord propineth when he is angry with his people and no man knoweth when the end shall be Yet if we consider what our miseries might have been if these our miseries had not been that we ought to choose affliction and not impiety or iniquity and that all our troubles are but the travellings of child-birth to bring forth a Reformation We will take the saying of Ecclesiastes to be spoken to every one of us Say not thou what is the cause that the former dayes were 〈◊〉 better then these for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this e I intend not to see forth the great power and mercifull providence of God in the late seasonable Deliverance and notable victory never to be forgotten that being recent in your minds and the intent of the following Sermon We ought to be thankefull for the undenyable presence of God to stir up our selves to take hold of him lest he hide his face and depart from us and to goe on hereafter with confidence in his Name against the greatest difficulties But when I call to minde what hath come to passe in these dayes since the beginning of our troubles and begin to consider the proceedings and results of Divine providence contrary to the designes and devices of the Enemies which they cannot dâ—ny and farre beyond the first intentions and particular desires of such as the Lord hath used for instruments in his work which they do reverently acknowledge I may make use of the grave and serious warning of the Apostle Behold therefore the goodnes and severity of God on them which fâ—ll severity but towards thee goodnes if thou continue in his goodnes otherwise thou also shalt be cut off f And that we may the more value the goodnes of God to our selves we ought the more to behold the severitie of God cutting off the pompe the pride the tyrannie and power of the Enemies I may also with him although writing of a matter of another kinde cry out O the depth of the riches both of the wisedome and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgements and his wayes past finding out for who hath knowne the minde of the Lord or who hath been his Counsellour g Not only in the matter of salvation and damnation but in the administrations of his providence the Lord useth his Soveraigntie and doth what seemeth good unto his wisedome and although we know not the particular reason of every thing yet this we know whatsoever be the weaknesse of men upon the one hand or the wickednesse of men oâ— the other that all things are done by him that ruleth the world in great wisedome and Iustice to his own glory and the good of his Church Againe when from my sense of my self of my own thoughts wayes which many thousands may observe and no doubt doe observe of themselves I begin to remember how men who love to live obscurely and in the shadow are brought forth to light to the view and talking of the world how men that love quietnes are made to stirre and to have a hand in publique busines how men that love soliloquies and contemplations are brought upon debates and controversies how men who love peace are made to war and to shed bloud and generally how men are brought to act the things which they never determined nor so much as dreamed of before The words of the Prophet Jeremie come to my remembrance O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himselfe it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps h which imply the positive part That the way of man is in the hand of God and that the Lord directeth his steps to his owne appointed ends according to the saying of the wise Solomon whether speaking of the Decrees of God or of the word of God There are many devices in a mans heart neverthelesse the Counsell of the Lord that shall stand i Experiments of things past are documents of things to come Let no man thinke himself absolute master of his own actions or wayes When thou wast young thou girdedst thy self and walkedst whither thou wouldst but when thou shalt be old thou shalt stretch forth thy hands and another shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldest not k Let no man say I shall die in my nest in mine owne house with my children about me and under my vvings l We will learne I hope by time if wee be not unteachable to distinguish betwixt our first and naturall will and our second our Spirituall and more deliberate will and to say Not my will but thy Will be done m The seven yeers of ensuing Providence may carry us as far beyond the present intentions whether of the enemies of Religion or our own as the seaven yeeâ—s past have done beyond our former intentions and theirs The pulling down of Poperie in the Christian world and the puting down of Prelacie and the supporters thereof in Britaine are equally feasible to the Almighty who delighteth to turn our difficulties and impossibilities into the glorious demonstrations of his Divine Power and who putteth motions into the hearts of men which they turne into Petitions and indeavours and God by his Power bringeth forth into reality and action the conception birth and perfection is all from himself When I speake of the future and that which afterwards may come to passe my meaning is not that God will alwayes and throughout the whole work use the same individuall instruments experience hath already proved the contrary I speak of the Collective and successive body which like a flood runneth in a continuall course but the severall parts passe by very
light from the Sunne yet the circumstances thereof are like the bright Starres and some of them of the first magnitude twinckling and sending out their light round about for our contemplation and comfort The one is the faire and beautifull ground of the worke the other the embroidery and variety of colours wrought upon it by the hand of God and laid before our eyes that we may behold the manifold goodnesse power and wisedome of God I shall now therefore enter upon the particulars formerly proposed from the text of which the first was the greatnesse of Peters Deliverance at this time which may appeare if we consider these three things 1. The glory of Jesus Christ if Peter had perished at this time it had not been speaking after the manner of men without dishonour to the Sonne of God for being called by him to come upon the water it would have been attributed to want of power in Christ if hee had perished and it was his glory to save him and so in this respect the Deliverance was great 2. The danger he was in the raging Sea ready to devoure him he being unable to save himself and there being no other to helpe him and therefore in this respect the Deliverance great 3. The danger the other Disciples were in for if they had seen him sinke down and swallowed up what could they who were still tossed in the ship have expected but to have perished also and therefore in respect of the Disciples it was a great Deliverance The Lord looketh to his own glory to the distresse of his servants that are like to perish and to the scandall of others and draweth them forth of many Waters Psal. 18. 16. 2. The seasonablenesse and opportunity of this Deliverance is manifest by two things one was when the Sea through the boysterous winde was in the greatest rage the other was when he was brought very low in his owne sense It is familiar in Scripture to compare the Enemies of the Church to the raging waves of the Sea when the enemie is most arrogant and proud and when the Church and people of God are beginning to sinke then is the opportunity of the destruction of the one and deliverance of the other for in that nick of time is the hand power of God most discernable to his ovvn glory then is the confusion of the enemy most terrible then is the deliverance of the Godly most vvonderfull and comfortable Hence is it that the Lord vvho hath appointed time for every thing and hath made every thing beautifull in his time keepeth this rule in all his great deliverances hee suffereth the vvicked to exalt themselves and to gather strength hee giveth them sometimes Victories in a vicissitude with the people and thereby hardneth their own hearts and the hearts of others that trust in them as when the Magitians brought things to passe like unto the Miracles of Moses for how else should they grow up and be made ripe for destruction How should their cup be filled Hee suffereth also his owne people and his owne Cause sometimes to be borne downe for how else should they be in due time exalted But all this is nothing else but a preparation for a glorious worke of Justice and Mercy in the end If men would lay this one parcell of Providence to heart they would be forced against all their Atheisme to cry out Verily there is a reward for the righteous verily hee is God that judgeth the earth Psalm 58. 11. 3. The third thing it the sensiblenesse of the hand of Christ in delivering Peter Hee stretched forth his hand and caught him He could have saved him by his word only as Matth. 8. 8. The Centurion said Speak the word onely and my servant shall be healed Yea without speaking of the word by his Divine power for even when he did speak the word it was not his Word but his Power that wrought the miracle as when before he said to Peter Come it was not his word but his power that made Peter to walk upon the water Yet he stretched forth his hand for divers causes but principally that it might be knowne that he it was that by his power did deliver him Thus did he in working other Miracles as in curing the Lepers and the sicke that it might be knowne that he himself and no other did worke them and all to this effect that when it is seen that his hand worketh deliverance he may have the glory of it Wherefore are the Works of God ascribed to the Arme of God the hand of God the right hand of God the finger of God but that his power and efficiency may be acknovvledged of us and that he may have the praise of his ovvn vvork The Lord is a jealous God and vvill not give his glory to another Hee giveth many good things to the Children of men and vvorketh many notable Deliverances for them but the glory of them all he reserves for himself Potiphar committed all that he had to the hand of Ioseph and kept nothing back from him but his Wife vvhich made Ioseph to say and vve in this case may say it upon greater reason how can I doe this great wickednesse and sinne against God Gen. 39. 9. He is an Usurper an Adulterer an Idolater and Atheist that robbeth God of his glory Thus saith the Lord Let not the wise man glory in his Wisdome neither let the mighty man glory in his might Let not the rich man glory in his riches but let him that glorieth glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth me that I am the Lord which exercise loving kindnes judgement and righteousnesse in the earth for in these things I delight saith the LORD 4. A fourth thing to be taken notice of in this deliverance is the Relation it had to the prayer of Peter Hee prayed in his danger and distresse and the Lord immediatly stretched forth his hand and delivered him The Blessings and Deliverances which God graunteth unto his people are much endeared unto us by this that they are the answer of our prayers For beside the benefit and deliverance it selfe our faith in the generall is confirmed that wee worship not an Idoll but the true and living God who heareth prayer Our speciall faith is much strengthened for hereby wee know that God heareth our prayer that through Jesus Christ our prayers and persons are accepted and that he is our God Hence it is observeable that the Godly such as Hannah David and others speake to God in more familiar termes after they had received the answers of their prayers then before Our confidence also is increased For upon the gracious answer of our prayers we can with greater boldnes present our petitions before the throne of Grace No man maketh conscience of prayer or endeavoureth to pray aright but hee maketh also conscience and endeavoureth to observe the answer of his prayers Sometimes the present answer
of prayer is no other but the continuance of the spirit of prayer which still helpeth our infirmities and maketh intercession for us Rom 8. 26. Sometimes our prayer returneth into our bosome Psal. 35. 13. where we finde the peace of God which passeth all understanding to keepe our hearts and mindes through Christ Iesus Phil. 4. 7 Sometimes we have no other answer but my grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakenes 2. Cor 12 9. And sometimes either a better or the same thing which we desired and it may be with great advantage is granted unto us of which there bee many examples like unto this of the answer of Peters prayer The fifth and last thing which setteth forth this Deliverance is this That it was of free goodnes and not from any perfection in him for he is rebuked for his doubting as one of little faith Where we may observe that beside the wide difference betwixt beleevers and unbeleevers which is a difference in kind faith elevating a beleever far above naturall men and unbeleevers as man is above the inferiour creatures and angels above men There is a difference in degrees betwixt one beleever and another and betwixt a beleever and himself insomuch that one is said to be of little faith and another to have great faith and one and the same beleever sometimes to have little at other times great faith Peter had faith to walk upon the water which was the greater triall but now when the winde is boysterous which was the lesser temptation his faith proveth weak which was a Progstick of that which came to passe in his deniall afterward a I have not a minde nor is it proper for this time to wearie your attention with the many distinctions of faith that there is a faith which is an habite and vertue Theologicall and a faith which is a speciall gift that there is a faith felt and a faith unfelt much lesse with the distinctions of faith formed and unformed explicite and implicite I would onely tell you that faith is said to be weake extensively and in respect of the knowledge of the things to be beleeved thus the faith of the Apostles while they knew not the Resurrection of Christ the faith of Rachab the woman of Samaria and many others who knew but few of the mysteries of faith was but a weake faith Or intensively and in respect of perswasion and application It was long ere Thomas was brought to say My Lord and my God Hee that hath this weake faith may be considered of us as hee hath faith for weake faith is true faith and as his faith is weak as he hath faith he beleeveth and adhereth to the truth of the word and in distresse prayeth and cryeth with Peter Lord save mee But as his faith is weakned by temptations and difficulties apprehended by naturall sense and carnall reason which is the wisdome of the world and an enemy to the receiving of the wisdome of God hee doubteth hee wavereth hee staggereth through a mixture of unbeliefe which certainely is the work of the flesh whatsoever Papists say to the contrary in commendation of doubting and yet such is the goodnes and grace of our Lord Iesus Christ that in this night of darknes in this winter season he looketh at the root under the ground and to the leafe of prayer which it sends forth when neither fruit nor flower doth appeare and thereupon hee that breaketh not the bruised reed and quencheth not the smoaking flax doth deliver his owne children which maketh them afterward when they recover their strengths to thinke shame of themselves and to admire of his wonderfull goodnes Faith sometimes is like fire in the flint which to the sense is as cold as another stone yet hath fire in it naturally as the soule which is partaker of the Divine Nature hath faith in it supernaturally Sometimes it is like fire in the tinder sometimes like fire in the match sometimes like fire in the candle and sometimes like fire on the hearth which enlightneth and warmeth the whole roome But the Lord in answering the prayers of his people looketh more to the truth then to the degree of faith The word of doubting as some have searched into the nature of it is borrowed from a ballance or paire of weights the scales whereof move and waver up and downe inconstantly Wee have another word Marke 11. 23. which signifieth to dispute or debate because they who doubt have a dispute and debate of adverse parties within themselves like that of the twins which struggled together in the wombe of Rebecca and makes them to goe and enquire of the Lord The nature of faith Heb. 11. 1. is a subsistence by which the minde looking constantly at Jesus Christ is preserved from fluctuating and doubting as when the tongue of the Ballance standeth streight and stable But Satan the old Adam and the world come in and sometimes lift up the one scale in Presumption and sometimes beare down the other in diffidence and pusilanimity Christ opposeth to the one the danger of sinking and to the other his Word and hand that so the soul may be reduced to the stability and subsistence of Faith Thus was the wonderfull Wisedome Mercy Truth and Power of the Sonne of God manifested at that time and many times since And thus have I made a survey of the five Circumstances accompanying this miracle of Peters Deliverance all which are very appliable to that notable deliverance which the Lord hath wrought for us for the publick acknowledgement whereof we hold this solemne Assembly First if it had pleased the Lord to turne his hand against us which was stretched out for us against our enemies the Name of God had been dishonoured our Armies had been destroyed and our selves that were but in a ship neere unto them had been in danger to have perished and thus the deliverance is great 2. As it was great and eminent so was it opportune and seasonable I speak to them who are acquainted with the posture of affaires the Enemy had exalted himselfe to the top of his pride and had designed like Belshazzar and his Nobles to make themselves merry with the spoiles of the people of God who although their hearts were stedfast to the Cause and work of God yet by divine dispensation delaying their desires and bringing them about in his owne wise and secret way were brought low and therefore in the one respect and the other a very seasonable deliverance 3. The hand of God was sensibly seen in it specially that when they were almost lost in the opinion of many of themselves the Lord brought the wheele about upon the enemy so marvellously that it is a wonder that so many although they had been naked men could have fallen by the sword in so few houres 4. That in this the Lord answered the Prayer of his people He hath heard us since the